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Keeping things festive and fun with my Spicy Sweet Holiday Storm Cocktail. Cranberry juice mixed with vodka, St. Germain, a squeeze of lemon juice, bitters, spicy-sweet jalapeño honey, and topped off with ginger beer. It’s a touch of sweet and a little bit of spice – the perfect “holiday storm”. Rim your glasses in sweet mint sugar to create a Christmas cocktail that sparkles. It’s spicy, sweet, and festive – ideal for these cold winter nights. Mocktail variation in the notes section.
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It’s safe to say that when my family celebrates the holidays, we really know how to have fun. It’s complete chaos, but it wouldn’t be Christmastime otherwise. Every night when the family is here for Christmas vacation, a board game is being played, food is cooking, the chatter is loud, and there’s always a new cocktail being mixed.
I created this Spicy Sweet Holiday Storm Cocktail with my family in mind. I thought it would be the perfect new drink to mix up this year when all the chaos begins.
I’m sure many of you have lingering Thanksgiving guests. You may be feeling a little run down from all the days of cooking (and possibly Black Friday shopping too). Well, this drink is the perfect pick-me-up.
Yes, festive cocktails have arrived! These holiday drinks are my favorite to share and I plan to create some of my best cocktails yet.
I’m excited!!
The details
This cocktail is simple as can be. Start with the spicy honey. Simply simmer honey with jalapeños and ginger to infuse the honey with flavor. This will add sweetness and spice to our cocktail.
Once you have the syrup together, make the drink. Stir together the cranberry juice, vodka, St. Germain, lemon, and bitters, then pour over a glass filled with ice. It can be any glass, but I thought these coupe glasses felt pretty fun and festive.
Then top them off with ginger beer. So very GOOD.
If you want to add something extra, I also made a sweet mint sugar to rim each glass. This isn’t needed, but it is fun!
If you want to serve this drink for a holiday party, make the punch version. It serves 8 or so people, but can easily be doubled or tripled. I will for sure be mixing up this punch when my family starts tricking in for Christmas mid-December. This drink has all of their favorites in one. I know they’ll love it!
Looking for other Christmas drinks? Here are my favorites:
Spicy Pomegranate Ginger Paloma
The Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail
Lastly, if you make this Spicy Sweet Holiday Storm Cocktail, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Spicy Sweet Holiday Storm Cocktail
Ingredients
Jalapeño honey syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1-2 jalapeños, sliced
- 6 slices fresh ginger
Cocktail
- 1/3 cup cranberry juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1/2 ounce St. Germain , (elderflower liquor)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1-2 dashes bitters
- 1 ginger beer
- sugared cranberries, for serving
Instructions
- 1. To make the jalapeño honey syrup. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, jalapeños, and ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool, then strain the syrup into a glass jar. This makes enough for 6-8 drinks. The longer you allow the jalapeños to sit, the spicier the syrup. 2. Rim your glass in sugar, then fill with ice.3. Combine the cranberry juice, vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice, bitters, and 1-2 tablespoon jalapeño honey in a cocktail shaker. Stir to combine. Strain into your glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish as desired with cranberries and mint. Enjoy!
SUGARED CRANBERRIES
- 1. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup honey and 1/3 cup water to a boil. Cook 2 minutes, then remove from the heat. Add 2 cups fresh cranberries. Let sit 10-15 minutes. Strain the cranberries, then add them to a parchment-lined baking sheet.2. Toss the cranberries with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until all the cranberries are coated. Allow the cranberries to dry, in a single layer, for at least one hour.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Spicy Sweet Holiday Storm Punch
Ingredients
Jalapeño Honey Syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1-2 jalapeños, sliced, sliced
- 6 slices fresh ginger
Punch
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups vodka
- 1/2 cup St. Germain , (elderflower liquor)
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 4 dashes bitters
- 6 ginger beers
- sugared cranberries, for serving
Instructions
- 1. To make the jalapeño syrup. In a pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, jalapeños, and ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool, then strain the syrup into a glass jar. This makes enough for 6-8 drinks. The longer you allow the jalapeños to sit, the spicier the syrup.2. In a punch bowl, combine the cranberry juice, vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice, bitters, and jalapeño honey. Stir to combine. Chill until ready to serve. 3. Just before serving, add ice to your punch bowl. Pour over the ginger beer. Rim your glasses, then add ice. Pour over the punch. Serve with cranberries and mint. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Made for Christmas! It was very delicious !
I used just one jalapeño,just enough heat!
Hey Lori,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
If I don’t have jalapeños for the syrup could I use red pepper flakes or will that mess up the flavor? I also could just do the fresh ginger and honey!
Thanks!
Hey Julianne,
Sure, chili flakes will work and same with the fresh ginger and honey. I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays! xT
Hi Tieghan!
So looking forward to making this cocktail for my family at Christmas!
A question about the syrup – if I made it a couple of days before needed, then strain it into a jar, will it keep okay it in the fridge?
Thanks for another great recipe….and Merry Christmas!
Dawne
Hey Dawne,
Totally, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays! xx
How much ginger beer do you add to the punch? 6 full cans of ginger beer seems like so much!
Hi Lindsay,
I do 6 ginger beers, but feel free to do less:) I hope you love the recipe! Cheers! xx
Is the syrup meant to have a liquid consistency? I’m having trouble getting it to thicken up!
Hey Makenzie,
Yes, the syrup should not be thick:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
How much ginger beer for the individual cocktail and the punch version? In the punch version is says 6 ginger beers but surely you don’t add a can/bottle per cocktail.
Hey Debbie,
For the cocktail you are just doing a splash of ginger beer. The punch version calls for 6 ginger beers. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
This looks so good! When you make the punch, how much of the simple syrup do you add?
Thanks so much Marie!! For the punch, you are going to use all of the syrup! Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
Absolutely obsessed with this drink!!!!
Hey Jess,
Happy Monday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it turned out well for you! Thanks for your comment! xT
Should I use cranberry cocktail, or 100% cranberry juice? Thanks!
Hey Jennifer,
I like to use 100% cranberry juice. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this recipe turns out well for you! xx
Hi! Is there something to replace the elderflower? I’m having trouble finding it.
Thank you in advance!! 😃
Hey Melanie,
You can just omit the elderflower:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xT
Oooh! So excited to try for an upcoming party. Any thoughts or recommendations on subbing tequila for vodka?
Thank you!
Thanks so much Melissa! Sure, you could just swap the tequila with the vodka. Let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
Where are the glasses from?
Hey Porsha,
Here is the link for the glasses:
https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=948219115&pid=uid3696-43323264-41&aid=45496900&utm_content=productwidget%3A63816b742d0ba511edc44c84&utm_medium=referral
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Sounds delicious!! How long will the sugared cranberries keep if you make them in advance? Are there any storage tips? They would make a delicious garnish to lots of holiday treats!
Hey Catherine,
Thanks so much!! You could probably keep them in your fridge for a few days in an airtight container. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
Curious is there something you can use as a substitute for the ginger beer?
Hi Lindsey,
You could do a splash of ginger ale or sparkling water:) I hope this recipe turns out well for you! Cheers! xT
you are the queen of cocktails! my best friend and i always make one of yours during the holidays and have a virtual toast, since we live far from another. this one will be the one!!!
Your cocktails are always so beautiful and inviting. Made two pitchers of your spiced honey bourbon old fashioned for Thanksgiving and everyone raved…even the non bourbon lovers. Thanks Tieghan!
Awe thank you so much Noreen! I love to hear that your family enjoyed the old fashioned, thanks for making it:) xT
Lol thank you Lindsay!! I appreciate you making the cocktails and so fun you can connect with your friend over them, love this!! Cheers!! xx